Research
Potential of Small Modular Reactors in Hard-to-Decarbonize Industries
April, 2022
Summary
Small modular reactors (SMRs) are an emerging technology that have a variety of potential applications in Canada. To understand how SMRs could contribute to Canada’s decarbonization, Pollution Probe commissioned Navius to model the potential roles and impacts of this technology. This study focuses on their use in industry as a greenhouse gas emissions reduction solution.
Highlights:
- Potential for SMR deployment in Canada is strongly tied to the level of climate mitigation effort.
- If strong carbon reduction policies are pursued, SMR adoption could increase into the tens of thousands of MW by mid-century and reduce GHGs by 19-59 Mt CO2e.
- A variety of industries are attractive for potential SMR deployment in Canada and all share one thing in common – a demand for high-grade
process heat.
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This study was commissioned and funded by Pollution Probe.
To learn more about this research, please contact Noel Melton.
Other Research
2023
2022
Damage Control: Reducing the costs of climate impacts in Canada
Animal-sourced food consumption and Canada’s emissions targets
Simulating Canada’s 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan
Potential of small modular reactors in hard-to-decarbonize industries
Hitting Canada’s climate targets with biogas & RNG
Under Water: The costs of climate change for Canada’s infrastructure
2021
Informing a strategy for reducing agricultural greenhouse gas emissions in British Columbia
The role of carbon capture and storage in Canada’s net zero future
Canada’s clean energy economy to 2030
Canada’s Clean Fuel Regulations explanation and insights
Towards Canada’s fair share: New modeling and analysis on achieving a stronger climate target
Assessing the impacts of the Conservative Plan to Combat Climate Change
2020
2019
Meeting Canada’s climate mitigation commitments under the Paris Agreement
Quantifying Canada’s clean energy economy
California and Québec’s ZEV mandates description
Reversing carbon leakage in the Canadian aluminum sector
Supporting the development of CleanBC
Saskatchewan’s carbon tax numbers are in and the answer is … reporting errors
Older
Review of British Columbia’s RLCFRR energy effectiveness ratios
Refining margins and fuel policy in British Columbia
Analysis of the proposed Canadian Clean Fuel Standard
Electrification best practices in Canada
A review of ECCC’s method for estimating upstream GHGs
Refining margins in British Columbia
Greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the Energy East pipeline project
The Renewable and Low Carbon Fuel Requirement Regulation
How do industrial GHG reduction efforts affect demand for skilled labour?
Is British Columbia’s carbon tax good for household income?
How resilient are the Canadian oil sands to carbon constraints?